held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4 out
held up mid-division, headway after 5 out to chase leaders, ridden before 2 out, one pace in 3rd from last
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on and held run-in
tracked leader, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear and keen, effort before 2 out, never dangerous
close up, fell 2nd
made all, ridden before 3 out, pressed last, kept on
with leaders early, mid-division, weakened after 5 out, tailed off before 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 5 out, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
Shammick Boy bids to follow up last year's success and is 4lb lower not taking into account Paul John's claim. Anteros looks a better bet than stablemate Radmores Revenge and has plenty in his favour, as does Hidden Identity. Aubusson won over course and distance under Lizzie Kelly in December while Vieux Lion Rouge should pick up a decent handicap over the next few months. Boondooma and Shelford are both recent winners and the latter remains unexposed, as does Closing Ceremony. REGAL ENCORE (NAP) was sent off favourite for a valuable handicap at the Punchestown Festival in May after finishing fourth in the Imperial Cup at Sandown but found the ground too quick. A P McCoy keeps faith with the six-year-old and he can recoup losses here.
L'unique (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, struggling before 3 out, stayed on flat, no impression on leaders, 5th of 13, 13l behind Broadway Buffalo (10-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in May.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch in 5th, not fluent 2nd, closed after 3 out, ridden and edged left before last, went 3rd at hurdle, stayed on, just failed to get 2nd, no impression on winner, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Garde La Victoire (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Aubusson (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed after next, soon ridden, no chance with front pair in clear 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 6, 32l behind Red Sherlock (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Boondooma (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Always handy, clear 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f (3) gs beating Peckhamecho (11-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Hidden Identity (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) In rear, well beaten after 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Polly Peachum (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Apr, 19 ran.
Regal Encore (IRE) 5-1fav (10-4) Mid-division on outer, ridden in 7th 2 out, kept on same pace straight, 8th of 25, 14l behind Deep Trouble (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl in May.
Harristown 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened on long run to 2 out, 11th of 14, 28l behind Baltimore Rock (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Shelford (IRE) 6-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, led and awkward 4 out, pressed after, ridden before last, stayed on well, clear final 100 yards, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Emerging Talent (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Closing Ceremony (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, weakened soon after, eased, tailed off, 4th of 6, 43l behind Hot Whiskey N Ice (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Radmores Revenge 50-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 4 out, 18th of 25, well behind Master Oscar (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f cond hcap hdle in Apr.
Anteros (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, led last, soon hung right under pressure, held on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in May beating Liberty Court (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent and reminders 7th, not fluent next, weakened from 9th, tailed off 4 out, last of 6, well behind Qulinton (11-0) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in May.
